No fewer than 10 armed robbers, about 8 pm yesterday, used dynamite to force open the safe of a first generation bank opposite the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Choba, Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

The casualty figure could not be ascertained at press time, but witnesses said many people died. Innocent persons were also said to have been injured in the confusion.

Witnesses, who pleaded anonymity, said the armed robbers operated unchallenged for almost one hour and later escaped, while policemen arrived on the scene two minutes after the hoodlums had left.

It was learnt that immediately the armed robbers arrived at the bank, they started shooting sporadically to scare passersby on the busy Choba-NTA Road.

The road is still being dualised by the Rotimi Amaechi administration, which causes regular traffic jam, coupled with another huge traffic at the nearby UNIPORT junction on the ever-busy East-West Road, also being dualised by the Federal Government.

When the hoodlums’ gunshots became unbearable, pedestrians and motorists scampered for safety, causing pandemonium, with many persons injured and vehicles abandoned on the road.

With the heavy gunshots frightening the people, making them to run away from the area. The armed robbers had a field day. They shot security personnel on duty, resulting in heavy casualty. Some of them ran away.

Some unlucky passersby and motorists were, however, hit by stray bullets, with some of the witnesses presuming that members of the Boko Haram were on the rampage.

With the bank’s security guards overpowered, the armed robbers used the SMGs, AK-47 rifles and dynamite to destroy the security door at the bank’s main entrance and moved straight to the safe, which they forced open and carted away cash.

The witnesses said some employees of the bank, especially those balancing their accounts, were still in the hall when the hoodlums arrived. Some of them were injured and made to lie face down on the floor.

Having successfully operated and with huge cash in their kitty, the robbers disappeared amid sporadic gunshots.

UNIPORT’s spokesman Dr. Williams Wodi, in a telephone chat at 9:52 pm said the robbery led to confusion, but it took place outside the campus.

Bawss1:

Tragic

A small question though: how come every time explosives are used during any incident in PH the press is quick to identify it as dynamite. How did they arrive at this identification? Do criminals have a rule of using only dynamites in Rivers state? I recall that during the heydays of the Niger Delta militancy, it was reported that dynamites were used in all if not most of the attacks. How come?
[img]http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3xltGTqaIZwyCEX-xmmicQYjWpRV1_zvzMwIgWIZhD0VlMxtLUw[/img]

Raxxye:

What problems do u hv with d type of weapons or explosives used? Maybe u should recommend, or possibly, supply the type used in ur area to them.
@topic. Hw sad. I only wish they spare innocent lives when carrying out their evil acts.

mukina2:

Witnesses, who pleaded anonymity, said the armed robbers operated unchallenged for almost one hour and later escaped, while policemen arrived on the scene[b] two minutes[/b] after the hoodlums had left

Raxxye:

What problems do u hv with d type of weapons or explosives used? Maybe u should recommend, or possibly, supply the type used in ur area to them.


Good answer to a stupid question!!!

Imanuelle:

Otokx, Don't be surprised i may know u.
Well, d girl in ur post stays @ dsame house wit ma frnd, She really got lucky sha, But weneva u see her, tell her she should be careful nxt time, she shouldn't have gonefurther when she sighted d guy wit a gun.

Kill cabal:

Dis is wat corruption still bring back,  Guys i mean people dey vexxxxxxx